Contractors are busy this summer working on Kendall school project

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 6 August 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Roof work is well underway on the exterior of the Kendall Jr./Sr. High School.

KENDALL – The excitement continues to build in Kendall where major portions of the Kendall Central School District’s Capital Improvement project are expected to be complete by the beginning of the school year, now about one month away.

District Superintendent Julie Christensen gave an update on progress of the project during her report at the regular School Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening.

“I can’t wait for the kids to come in,” she said of the return of students in early September. Christensen explained that the main entrance to the Jr./Sr. High School will look very different to students.

“It’s now a bright space,” she noted. “You can see light from the door.”

Work on the new cafeteria and the middle school wing are wrapped up, Christensen said, and the library is also undergoing a transformation.

“The library will look totally different,” Jr./Sr. High School Principal Carol D’Agostino said. “It will look more like a college resource area.”

This rendering from SWBR Architects shows how the Junior-Senior High School will look after renovations. The top left picture shows the school before renovations.

The Commons area will also be transformed into a study hall/ gathering spot, much like on a college campus, both D’Agostino and Christensen said.

D’Agostino is keeping the community updated on progress of the project on the school’s twitter page.

Superintendent Christensen also updated ongoing work at the elementary school. Progress is moving ahead of schedule on the roof. Painting of the interior is ongoing as well as the installation of new floors. Christensen said the primary wing is done, the west wing by the gym is done and the kindergarten area is close to being done. Upstairs, the classrooms are done and work on the art room will start soon.

“The sixth grade is the last spot to come back online,” she noted, adding “the parking lot is moving along.”

Kendall residents approved the $25 million capitol project in May 2013. The district then worked with the State Education Department on the final designs for the work. Construction started last October.

“The Jr./Sr. High School is a real transformation,” Christensen added. “The Elementary School is a face-lift.”

Students will see the transformation for the first time during a community open house planned for Sept. 3. Tours begin at 6 p.m. and a chicken BBQ will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. The jazz band and chorus are expected to perform.

“We want to make it a celebration,” D’Agostino said.